Coated rubber and process for producing the same



Nov. 30 1926. 1,608,727

c. T. DICKEY COATED RUBBER AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE sua- Filed April 4, 1925 v v v v v v INVENTOR 4 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3t), 1926.

UNITED V'VISTAVTES- CHARLES T. DIGKEY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW

JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO RDDIC RUBBER GO,

QF GARWOOD, NEW JERS EY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ooarnn nunanniann raocnss F03 PRODUCING THE SAME.

Application filed April 4,

My invention relates to a, process for the production of sponge rubber and refers particularly to sponge rubber carrying an outer covering of fabric and the process for producing the same. 1

It is frequently desirable to employ sponge I .rubber, especially in sheet form, covered with a fabric for purposes of strengthening the rubber of because of the advantages and comfort incident to the contact between a soft fabric, as silk, and the human body, and

. among the devices in which this combination is desirable and valuable are corsets and bandages.

The usually employed method of cementing, or gluing the fabric to the face of the rubber sheet is highly unsatisfactory, espe cially in those devices which are stretched during-their employment, as the great difference between the elasticity of the rubber and of the fabric causes a rupture of the cementing-means. thus producing a device in which the rubber is covered by a loose and nonattached fabric.

-In many'devices it is desirable that the rubber sheet be perforated, in order to allow-of proper ventilation. These perforations have. been generally produced by punching out, or cutting out, a plurality of portions of the sheet. It is evident that by this method of production, the fabric is also cut out, thus leaving a frayed .edge around each perforation. It is also evident that the exposed walls of the perforations will consist of the cells of the sponge rubber, thus presenting an objectionable absorbent surface for the retention of moisture,

' perspiration, etc. 1

' A consideration, therefore, of a sheet of sponge rubber carrying a cementedfabric covering with perforations therethrough 'as described above presents a device having highly disadvantageous and objectionable features, in that there will be a separation of the rubber and the fabric during a stretching process, that this'will be greatly enhanced due to the frayed condition of the fabric, and that the walls of the perforations will collect and maintain, moisture.

The device of my invention overcomes all of the above-mentioned, and 0ther,objec-' tionable features and presents. a: device in i which thefabric and rubber are molded to gether during the vulcanization process, which there is no cutting away of the fabric 1925. Serial No. $50,767.

or rubber for the production of perforations and in which the walls of the perforations are fabric covered.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one form of devitze suitable for the following of my process, similar parts are des- Q Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-section through the line 6-6 of-Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-section of a inodified form of the device of my inven- The following of my process in connection with the particular device shown diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings is as follows The hydraulic press member 10 carries a sheet of soft rubber 11 to act as a backing for the rubber to be perforated. The hydraulic press-member 12 carries a removable plate 13 having a plurality of extended pins, orperforating members, 14-44:, a portion of each pin being preferably cylindrical, as shown. The sheet material to be perforated is then placed upon the soft sponge backing 11, in the case illustrated. a lower fabric 15, an upper fabric 16 and an intermediate sheet" of unvulcanized rubber 17 Thetwo hydraulic members 10 and 12'are then moved toward each other, forcing the pins 14-14" through the fiber 16, rubber 17 and fiber 15. It is to'be noted that the points of the pins will pass through the fiber16 without breaking any of the threads except perhaps in a few isolated cases, and that the pins during their passage will carry the upper fiber 16 downwardly through the perforations 18-18 as shown in Figure 3. thus lining the sides of the perforations with fabric.

The hydraulic members 10 and .12 are then moved from each other, and the plate 13, with the pins 141 1 and the perforated hydraulic press.

55 employed may be of a character to 19, being so spaced from each other, as to allow the unvulcanized rubberl'? sufficient room for sponge rubber production.

The mold with its contents are then subjected to heating and vulcanizing durin which process, sponge rubber 21 is forme this sponge rubber mass being covered completely by a solid rubber coating, or cover, 22, which in turn is covered with the fabrics 15 and 16. It is to be noted that the fabrics 15 and 16 are vulcanized to the solid rubber 22 while in the positions they are to finally assume, that is whi'le' both exposed faces of the rubber sheet as well as the walls of the perforations are completely covered with the fabrics. 4 7

Experience has shown that frequently the upper edges of the perforations 232,3 are rounded, due to the com' ression maintained upon the sponge rubber urin its formation less stretchable fabric, which thus acts as an auxiliary mold.

' closed in a Further, bead rings 24-24 are frequently formed around the lower edges of the perforations.

An examination of Figure 6 shows that the sponge rubber-mass 21 is completely enlayer of integral solid rubber 22, and that this in turn "is enclosed in a layer I of fabric-vulcanizedto the soft rubber cover closed by these land that all parts of the sponge rubber, in-

'cluding the perforations are covered and entwo fixedly attached layers of material.

. For purposes of clearness of ex lanation, the several layers are shown in t e accompanying drawings as being definitely dlstinct from each other, whereas, as a matter of fact, they intermingle to a certain degree thus producing a. uniform exceedingly strong device... It is further evident by a consideration of Figure 6, that the fabric is practically an Qpulluig or stretching device are thus greatly strengthened and al part of the rubber and that any. given the device will not separate the fabric from the rubber, nor expose any rubber surface,nor tear out the perforations. The rubber elements of the inte supported.

It is evident that-the rubber composition 7 produce solid rubber, instead of sponge ru her as described above, in which case the finished product will have the appearance. of that shown in Figure 7, the solid rubber 25 being completely covered by the fabrics 15 and 16.

. I do not limit myself to the particular. ma-

ing an inner mass of neoejre'z of procedure described, as

sponging the rubber while the perforating means are -within the perforations.

2. In the process of producing fabric covered perforated rubber, the steps which include bringing nnvulcanized rubber and a fabric in face abutment with each other,

producing perforations through the rubber and fabric whereby fabric will be positioned upon the walls of theper'forations and vulcanizing and sponging the rubber while the fabric is thus positioned upon the walls of the perforations.

. 8. In the process of producing fabric covered perforated rubber, the steps which fabric in fee abutment with each other", producing perf rationsthrough the rubber and ,fabric whereby fapilgc will be positioned upon the Walls of t canizing, molding and'sponging the rubber perforations and vuland vulcanizin moldmg and g g the rubber while the 'include bringing unvulcanized rubber and a perforating means are within the perforations.

7. A sheet of perforated sponge rubber comprising an inner mass of sponge rubber,

5. Perforated sponge rubber in which the I a coating of solid rubber vulcanized to the sponge rubber and an exterior coating of fabric vulcanized to the solid rubber.

8. A sheet of perforated rubber compris sponge rubber, a coating of solid rubber completely covering the.

sponge rubber and vulcanized thereto and an exterior coating of'fab'ric completely eovering the solid rubber and vulcanized thereto.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 3rd day'ofApril, 1925.

. CHARLES- T. DICKEY. 

